Philistines

In the home of a prosperous acquaintance, a group of dissolute young radicals bemoan the state of the nation and the tedium of life as they drink, dance and philosophise.

Peter Brown - December 2014

Overview

Genre:
Black comedy

Venue:
RADA

Started: Thursday 22 November 2018

Closed: Saturday 1 December 2018

Running time:To be confirmed

Age suitability:
Not available

Background

Donnacadh O'Briain's acclaimed production of Rotterdam won the 2017 Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre.

His other directing credits include the Award winning gig-theatre show Electrolyte (Wildcard, Edinburgh fringe), Mother Christmas (Hampstead Theatre), Always Orange (RSC, The Other Place Festival), My World Has Exploded A Little Bit (Oval House Theatre), as well as From Both Hips and Mercury Fur at RADA in 2011 and 2013.

He also worked on the RSC's multi award-winning Histories Cycle, and is currently co-writing a play for Ice & Fire.

Synopsis

Maxim Gorky's radically naturalistic 1902 black comedy, originally banned from public performance and heavily censored, is seen in an exuberant new version by Andrew Upton.

In the home of a prosperous acquaintance, a group of dissolute young radicals bemoan the state of the nation and the tedium of life as they drink, dance and philosophise.

Lust, love and politics combine to pitch the household into disintegration as their country hurtles towards revolution.